Today is International Migrants Day. In the Secretary-General's message for the Day, he calls for the fulfilment and protection of the human rights of the world’s 232 million migrants.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General condemned today’s attack on a school in Pakistan, which took the lives of more than 130 people, the majority children. He extended his condolences to the people, Government and those touched by the tragedy, and urged the Government of Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released the latest report from the Monitoring Mission in Ukraine today. He said that the conflict is in its ninth month and the situation is becoming increasingly dire for the population living in the east.
The World Health Organization wrapped up in Geneva a two-day high-level meeting on rebuilding health systems in Ebola-affected countries. Those systems were deemed either not functional or not being used owing to fear of contracting the disease. WHO’s Chief invited Governments to develop country-specific plans.
The Secretary-General took part in the high-level ministerial meeting on climate action at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Lima this morning. With the Peruvian President and First Lady, he visited a reserve in the Andes to see first-hand how local communities are adapting and bolstering resilience to climate change and this afternoon will meet with the Green Climate Fund’s Executive Director, and with the Environment Ministers of Brazil, the Republic of Korea and Canada.
Marking Human Rights Day, the Secretary-General called on everyone to respond to the cries of the exploited and uphold the right to human dignity. He reiterated that human rights were for all, regardless of class, opinions or sexual orientation.
The World Food Programme, after suspending food aid to nearly 1.7 million Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries on 1 December, announced today that it is reinstating assistance thanks to $1.8 million in support from the public, the private sector and donor countries. By mid-December, Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt will have their electronic food vouchers uploaded with $30 for each family member, on average, to buy food from local shops.
The Secretary-General attended the opening of the Extraordinary seventieth Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council, saying its work helps the United Nations address pressing issues on the global agenda, including in the areas of health, security and the environment.
In their recent meeting, the Secretary-General and Catherine Samba-Panza, Head of State of the Transition for the Central African Republic, both noted that, despite some progress, the country’s humanitarian and security situation remained fragile and that urgent progress was needed on an inclusive political process.
When the Secretary-General presented his Synthesis Report, entitled “The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet”, to Member States today, he said all are now poised to take a major step towards ushering in a new era of sustainable development for all.